Off duty Newport News police officer accidentally shoots self in leg

An off-duty Newport News police detective is in a critical care unit at a local hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the leg on Monday.

The veteran officer — who has served on the police force for 28 years — underwent surgery at the hospital Monday afternoon, said police spokeswoman Holly McPherson.

McPherson said Tuesday that the detective is "doing well," but she could not go so far as to say his injuries are not life-threatening.

"At this point he is doing well, but still in the critical care unit," she said.

McPherson said the officer accidentally shot himself in the thigh with a personal handgun that was not his police service weapon. She declined to release the officer's name or what investigative unit he works in.

She added that the Police Department is conducting an internal investigation on the shooting, as is standard practice when an officer discharges a weapon.